Our Pool Boy

This is where you will find us in the evenings if we don’t have somewhere to go! Monday evening our new neighbor’s across the street were out in their yard and Jarrod invited their little boy, Sam, over to play. He’s almost 4 years old and was so much smaller than Stratton. His parent’s couldn’t believe that Stratton is just fixing to turn 3. The boys had a fun time running and sliding down the slide, hopefully he can come back and wear Stratton out again soon!!

Blank Slate

Here is Arden’s room- Freshly painted and ready for some personality!

The wallcling I is a 4’x 3’ and I’m not really sure where to put it?

I have a ton of ideas on what I want to do! But not a lot of time!

We have a white shelf that will go over the changing table.

Maybe in the next few weeks we can get it all decorated! Cushions are being made for the glider, I think my mom is going to make a valance out of the same paisley material to match. I bought a mirror from Pottery Barn, and my mom and I both have picked up some accessories. Once we get the big things up (shelf, mirror and wallcling) I can decide on what I want to do with the other artwork I’ve designed for the room. I’m excited to start “frosting” the cake- it’s my favorite part!!

Fun Stuff!

I just ordered a wall cling for her room!

And here is some more artwork I’ve designed. . .

. . . not sure where what to do with them or where I’m going to put them though!

Here’s some things that have been monogrammed by Sassy Stiches in Searcy!

The stuff I ordered off Etsy! Looks FAB!!

Onesie I bought at Dillards, personalized!

Margie got her this cute, pink owl set! Adorbs!

Stratton is the king?!

At his Gigi and Pop’s house anyways!

Friday, since Jarrod and I would be getting back late from Little Rock, my mom picked Stratton up from school and took him to their VBS in Hickory Ridge. Their theme had to do with pirates- hence the sword. . .I’m not real sure how the necklaces came into play. but Stratton loves anything like that stuff that lights up. My mom sent this picture to me from her phone, all I could do was roll my eyes, shake my head and laugh!  They are so silly!

And since Jarrod was scheduled to work all night Saturday night, Stratton got to stay with his Gigi and Pops until Sunday, and they met us at church at VV Sunday Morning. Jarrod went in at 7:30pm Saturday night and got home at 5:30 am Sunday morning. He met us for church at 10am. . .I would have had to sleep longer, but he’s not much of a day-time sleeper! Then after church we all went to Red Lobster, and met up with Dillon and Brandye, that was fun. The 6 of us rarely get together anymore, we’re all so busy! Then we went home and Stratton and I took a nap! Jarrod’s parent’s and Jennifer, Daniel and Archer came over around 4pm to have Father’s Day with Jarrod’s dad. The boys got to play for awhile before we went out to eat at O’Charley’s.  They all left around 7:30. It was a loooonnggg day! But those are usually the most fun! I love seeing Stratton and Archer play together. I’m glad that they are close enough in age to where they can play well together.

28 Weeks

Pregnancy Stats:
How Far Along: 28 Weeks
Size of baby: About the size of an Eggplant, 2 to 2.5 pounds and measuring 13.6 to 14.8 inches.
Gender: Girl, We finally have a name!! Arden Grace!!
Movement: She is still kicking and moving like crazy! I’m pretty sure she had her first round of hiccups last night!
Sleep: For every decent night of sleep, there is about 3 horrible ones. I think I have developed restless leg syndrome!
Cravings: Nothing major,
Symptoms: They are adding up! Tiredness, back pain and pressure, also more frequent trips to the ladies room! Shortness of breath and Jarrod claims I am snoring!
Best Moment This Week: Stratton told me he was ready for his sister to come out now. He’s tired of waiting!

Our Doctor appointment on Friday went well. It was the first time we didn’t get to have an ultrasound done, but that’s normal. I think I just got spoiled having one every time! I had gained another 5 lbs. Bringing the grand total to 18 lbs. She had a hard time finding the heartbeat at first because the baby was moving around so much. But once she found it, it was loud and strong at 145. I did let the Doc know about the intense back pain I’ve been having and also more pressure and cramps. She decided to be on the safe side and check me, which turned out to be a good thing. Everything is still like it should be and so far there is not indication of any sort of dilation or thinning.  Yay! That made me feel so much better! After some of the back pains I had in the past week, I was nervous! My next appointment is in 4 weeks, I will be 31 weeks! Seems like time is just flying by!

We didn’t take Stratton this time, which turned out to be a really good thing. They were running way behind and it was almost an hour before we got to see the Dr. He would have been tearing the place down! After our appointment we went to Loca Luna for lunch and then did a little shopping before heading home, I was tired and really didn’t want to be out too late.

Saturday, I got to sleep in since Stratton was at my parent’s house. I think it was almost 10am before I got up! Then Jarrod and I ran some errands and worked on Arden’s room. We got all the furniture where I wanted it and then I washed all the linens for her crib and got it set up. All it needs now is some wall décor, artwork and girly touches! The best part!

All Aboard! VBS 2012

Stratton with Bella and Al

Riding the Train with Barrett- he HAD to sit by her every night!

He loved his conductor hat and worn it every night!

Last night we had close to 220!

If you ever wondered why Pops is his favorite person. . .

. . . Just take a close look at this picture.

Grandparents?!!!

Yes, this is our child playing in the rice field with NO shoes and NO pants. Just a shirt and his undies.

They sent me this picture from my mom’s phone last weekend. They also let him play in the mud and he just loved that too. She showed me some more pictures she had taken and some video of him covered in mud but still asking “Gigi, can I get in the Mud?!” I’m sure he was still skeptical. I ‘m sure his little smart brain was telling him: WARNING!! THIS IS REALLY FUN AND NOT SOMETHING YOUR MOTHER WOULD LET YOU DO!! So he had to constantly be reassured that it was ok!

The making of Fiddle Fred

We took Stratton to Build-A-Bear Friday night so that he could create his very own “Fiddle Fred”. It didn’t take him long to decide he wanted the horse. There was even a Kermit the frog I really thought he would probably go for, but nope he wanted the horse! I was surprised how shy he was this time with the workers. The last time he got to visit BAB he was really into it, but this time he didn’t seem as interested in the “process”. Well not until they got him stuffed and sewed up, then he liked giving the horse a bath. He picked out a green John Deere shirt for his horse to wear. . . not surprisingly! Then when we went to check out the lady questioned the name, I think she thought that we made it up for him. Then I said “Stratton, tell the lady what your horse’s name is” and he clearly said “Fiddle Fred!” . Then you could tell she was surprised and said “Oh, ok! I have never heard that one!”. Haha! Yes, lady we know he’s got some kind of imagination!

Fiddle Fred is a Clydesdale horse (of course) who wears a John Deere Shirt!

Giving Fiddle Fred a bath

He carried Fred in his box “barn” all the way down the mall and to the car!

One HAPPY boy! He loves this horse! He has been sleeping with it every night!

Baby Fred now has a proper name!

The runner’s up were:

{ Charley ~ Elliott ~ Emerson ~ Harper ~ Scarlett }

We are relieved to finally have a name for our baby girl!

Now, let the monogramming begin!

On a side note: We will be taking Stratton to Build-A-Bear this evening, so he can make his special friend “Fiddle Fred”.  I’m sure it will be quite an ordeal!

Little Bookworm

Thanks to Aunt Christina for a bag full of new books!

I guess Christina and the girls were cleaning house and getting ready for a yard sale, and as they went through their old books they saved the ones they thought Stratton would like! How nice is that?! He loves books! In this newest collection of books, there is one called “Biscuit and the Baby”, he reads it or wants us to read it to him several times a day. Yesterday morning after he woke up he got it out of the living room and took it back to his bedroom got back in bed and read it. That’s my boy. There’s nothing better to me than to be snuggled up in bed with a good book! Now, to be fair, he usually only reads at night. Normally, he’s just too busy during the day to sit down and read, that’s why this picture is so funny to me! And ya gotta love his crossed legs. Funny Boy!

Let’s hear it for the girl!

Ok, I’m not doing a girly nursery, so I need an outlet for my need to design something pink and very “girly”. . .and so the blog just got a PINK re-vamp. I’m sure it won’t stay for too long, as my hubby will probably disapprove of the new color scheme! I have been thinking about doing this for about 3 weeks now and just got the overwhelming urge today. Ooh La La, I love me some PINK!

26 Weeks

The baby countdown has made it to 95 days! Wow. Actually that kinda sounds like a long time, however when I say, 12 and a half weeks. . . .now that is scary!! Here we are at 26 weeks. Things are going really well. I am feeling pretty good, I passed my glucose test, both are good signs and I’m not getting my hopes up yet, but right now it seems like things might be taking a normal course! I was 29 weeks when I was first put on bed rest when I was pregnant with Stratton, so as that date is fast approaching, I am getting really nervous and a little worried. I have no reason to worry, but then everything that happened with Stratton seemed like it just hit me with no warning, too. I am trying to take it easy and stay off my feet. I can tell those days when I stand or walk a lot really wears on me. My next Dr. appointment is next Friday, June 22nd.

Pregnancy Stats:
How Far Along: 26 weeks. . . AHHH!! Less than 100 days to go!!
Size of baby: About the size of an head of lettuce; 13.6- to 14.8-inch and 1.5- to 2.5-pound range
Gender: Girl, and yes she remains nameless
Movement: She is kicking and moving like crazy! I am constantly getting beat up!
Sleep: Sleep?? Am I supposed to be sleeping?
Cravings: None at the moment, I think my appetite might be slacking off.
Symptoms: Lots of pressure and some cramps. I am trying to stay off my feet as much as I can.
Best Moment This Week: While out shopping with Jarrod on Saturday, Stratton asked if he could buy a pink golf ball he saw for his baby sister! Aww! How sweet is that?

So we are trying to talk about “the baby” a lot more. Stratton, I think is coming to terms with it being a girl. . . I think. He has his moments. I try to get him to feel her kicking, but he rarely sits still long enough. The other night while I was trying to get him to sit still so he could feel, he decided he needed to see the baby. So he pulls up my shirt and “looks” in my belly button!? He said “I see her!” . . .I guess he thinks my belly button is a porthole to be able to see the baby! Silly boy! Then I told him he needed to talk to her. So he looks down at my belly and yells ”HEY, BABY! YOU READY TO COME OUT YET??!!”. Oh my. I think baby girl may need some headphones! Good thing she only hears muffled noises!

He is also still calling her “Fiddle Fred” and actually got rather upset one day when I was telling him that her name will not be Fred. I think he was on the verge of tears. We will be making a trip to Build-A-Bear soon so that he can “build” himself a “Fiddle Fred”. And if we can ever decide on a name, I’m sure that will help, too.

I am getting restless, impatient and maybe a little moody. . . . and I think the “nesting” tendency is starting to set in. I have bought quite a bit of newborn and baby clothes and I just want to keep buying. . .it’s like a disease! haha, not really but I am way more into shopping for her than I ever was for Stratton!  Jarrod has been working in her room. All we have left to do is paint. We are going to just put a fresh coat of the same color up, as the tan is a better color for re-sale. . .and who knows how much longer we will be in this house. So I don’t want to have to paint it again in a few months. We are using the same bedding and furniture that we had when Stratton was a baby. It’s gender neutral and of course like new, so I will for-go the temptation to go crazy with the pink and wait till we move and I can really go to town on her a girly room! Plus I still love the colors we used before. We just need to decide on a name so I can work on the art for the room! While I love the stuff we used before I need to girly-it-up a little!

I passed!!

Thank you Lord!! I am in shock! I passed my 3 hour glucose test!! I am just so relieved that I won’t have to do that impossibly difficult diet and pricking my finger 4 times a day!! Thanks so much to all of you who said a prayer on my behalf! I know it’s a little thing, but blessings- even the smallest ones need to be acknowledged!

I think I’ll have a cupcake to celebrate!!

A little overboard? Nah!

So we went to Memphis with the intention of just buying a few newborn things and just having a good time browsing. But every single store we went into was having a fantastic sale and I got much more stuff than I had intended! Baby girl is set for her first month! I keep thinking we might be in the hospital for awhile, and I want her to be able to wear her own stuff. We were so unprepared when we had Stratton. I may have gone a little overboard, but it makes me feel better to have some stuff ready. . .just in case! And hey isn't my peace of mind worth something too?  By the way, my new favorite store is Itty Bitty Bella, oh wow they have the cutest stuff! I could have spent a fortune in there!

We really did have a good day. And Jarrod took me to Bonefish Grill which I love! Their crabcakes are the best I've ever had anywhere! And a trip to Memphis just wouldn't be complete without a trip to Gigi's for cupcakes!

Pop! Goes my belly!

Well, I think I have officially “popped”. I noticed this morning how wide I am getting! Ugh. It’s depressing. Even when I know it’s a good thing, and that means I’m healthy, it’s still hard to look in the mirror and see such a wide silhouette! My friend Carla, who had her baby last week, returned my maternity clothes she had borrowed yesterday and it couldn’t have been better timing! I was running out of options (and getting tired of wearing the few things that did fit)! I got a new pair of jeans Friday at Gap in Little Rock and I have already worn them 3 times! They are comfy, and look nice which is fabulous!! I like that I am starting to look visibly pregnant, and not like I just put a little weight on! Maybe people will stop giving me judgmental looks when they see me clean my plate!!

And even though I look fabulous [haha- yeah, not so much] and seem to be feeling pretty good, I still failed the one hour glucose test. I got the call Tuesday morning. I was hopeful that I’d pass this time, since I passed the initial one I had a few months ago, but it looks like I may be on the road to a diagnosis of gestational diabetes again. Ugh. So I have another 3 hour glucose test on Monday. I was lucky that my Dr. in Little Rock arranged for me to have the 3 hour test here in Jonesboro! That would have been one long day if I had to go to LR for it!! I’ll have to go in “fasting” -no food or drink after midnight Sunday, and they’ll give me some more yummy [not so much] stuff to drink, and then they’ll draw blood after one hour, two hours, and three hours. I’m not at all hopeful that I’ll pass this one. I knew the chance was really high for me to have it again from the start, so I might as well just get over it and start to deal with it. My guess is that if I fail this one, they will send me to a nutritionist , like before and I’ll just be put on a diet of very little carbs and sugar and have to check my blood sugar 4 times a day. We’ll see though, who knows. As long as I don’t have to give myself shots of insulin all the time, I’ll be ok!

So, we’re having a girl. {breathe in. . . .breathe out. . . } It’s starting to sink in. And so far I have remained pretty calm about it. I have ordered a few things for her but all in all I am keeping my composure. . . for now!  I ordered this diaper clutch, bib and burp cloth set on etsy.com yesterday, I think I will get them monogrammed when they come in, but HOW CUTE are they?! You know I love me some pink and green!!!

Update on a name. . .she’s still Fred. Actually now it’s “Fiddle Fred”, according to Stratton. When we ask him what he wants to name the baby he’ll say “it’s Fiddle Fred, ok?!”. Not okay. We’ve narrowed it down to three names. Maybe we’ll figure it out soon! It’s just so hard!!

Stratton is going to spend the weekend with my parent’s and Jarrod and I are planning on finishing up the Target registry and if I feel up to it, going to Memphis tomorrow to do a little shopping, and eating! Then we’ll go to HR on Sunday afternoon for my uncle’s bday lunch and pick to Stratton up. I am hoping the weather stays nice and cool like it is today! It’s wonderful!! I’m not ready for summer!