Grant Learns How to Swim!

We spent the day swimming at my parent's house yesterday.  The weather was beautiful!   I have been trying to teach Grant how to swim without his swimmies all summer.  It took five minutes with Mimi and now he can swim like a fish!

Grant is fearless this year!  Such a big difference from the little boy who wouldn't get off the steps last year!

 

Erin, on the other hand, is a little more cautious this year.

He probably jumped in a hundred times yesterday!

Cousins and Blueberries

Stephen's Aunt Frankie and cousins, Brandie, Eric and little Gwen are in town visiting for the week.  We had a chance to all get together Monday evening.  I didn't take many photos because I went home early because I was sick.  (Not fun to get sick on top of being pregnant.)  I'm still feeling a little under the weather, but I am on the mend!

Erin, Grant, Dixie and Gwen

  

Grant and Dixie

After the rain, the kids were able to get outside and play.  They enjoyed eating fresh blueberries!  I wish I had been able to stay.  They saw a beautiful rainbow and all of the kids took off running trying to find the end of the rainbow.  I'm sure that would have been a sweet picture!  Hopefully, we will get a chance to visit again before the cousins go home.

Baby #3 Ultrasound Pictures

Went for an ultrasound yesterday!  My doctor always does one at 16 weeks, which is a little earlier than most doctors around here, but he does another scan at 25 weeks.  We were excited to take Grant and Erin with us to the appointment, because Grant is so excited about the "cute, little baby in Mommy's tummy."  After waiting patiently, for over and hour, it was our turn.  Grant did great during the scan....Erin cried the whole time.  She was afraid they were hurting her mommy!  I tried to convince her that I was fine, but she didn't believe me.  The scan showed that the baby is healthy and growing right on track for delivery.  Everything looks perfect, however, we couldn't get a clear view of the sex.  It appears that we are having a girl....at this time.  I am not getting too set on this idea, because Erin was a boy at our first two ultrasounds.  So for now we are trying to come up with a girl name.  The tech said she'd put in for us to get another scan in three weeks if my doctor will allow it.  I guess I will find out Monday at my appointment if he will allow the extra ultrasound.  If he doesn't, we will have another one in eight weeks.  Either way, I'm happy!  We have a healthy baby and that is what matters most!

Our Play Group: Fun in the Sun

Our playgroup had a swim date today!  A big thank you to my parents who graciously let us play at their house today.  We had a great time!  I uploaded some of these pics through Picasa and I don't quite know what I am doing yet.  It won't let me edit with captions and I am too lazy to re-upload my pictures to the blog.  Sorry!

Grant and Rebecca

Jenna

Baby Becca

Erin and Ashley

Play Group: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

We recently went to the zoo with our little playgroup of friends form church.  The kids and the moms had a great time hanging out with each other!

Jenna had found some sort of beetle bug, which Grant promptly stomped into the ground.  I felt so bad for Jenna, but she handle it well. 

The flowers and landscaping are always beautiful at our zoo.  When Stephen worked at the zoo a few years ago he always asking the horticulturist questions.  They even would sell plants and trees that were featured at the zoo once a year at discounted rates as a fundraiser for the zoo.  That's how we got the two Crepe Myrtles in our front yard.

Kids always love splashing in the water!  Erin, however, did not like staying wet afterwards and had a couple of wardrobe changes throughout the day.

Following the leader

Checking out the kangaroos:  shortly after this photo was taken Erin dropped her Peter Pan and Wendy dolls into the kangaroo exhibit.  Luckily, I was able to squeeze my hand through the fence and rescue them.  (I'm also lucky it was in the kangaroo exhibit and not the gorilla or jaguar exhibit...Peter Pan and Wendy would have had to stay at the zoo!)

All in all, it was a good day!  We saw lots of animals, rode the train, splashed in fountain, ate lunch, played on the playground and had snowcones!

Day 1: The Magic Kingdom

A few weekends ago we headed back to Disney for a quick getaway.  It was a bit warmer than our last trip!  I wasn't so sure about taking a trip to a theme park, in the heat, with morning sickness, but I survived the weekend and we had a great time.  (In reality, I am glad we went when we did because I have been sicker the past few weeks than I was earlier on in this pregnancy.  If I had to guess I would say this is another boy, because I feel as bad a I did with Grant.  Ughh...morning, noon, and night sickness that doesn't go away unitl the child is born.)

Disney is such a magical place.  Grnat loved the bubble machine that looked like trash cans.

I was surprised Grant got on this ride.  He loved it!

Erin and I riding Dumbo.  Grant was so close to riding this one, but he was done minutes before we finally had our turn.  I think the heat, and the fact that it was lunch time just got to him.  This line was the longest one we stood in all weekend.

After lunch, we headed over to the Judge's Tent to see Mickey and Minnie!

This was a little ride through Tomorrow Land.

An afternoon snack of ice cream and smoothies.

I can say the trip was a success.  The kids were worn out after our big day!

Day 2: Animal Kingdom

On the second day of our trip we went to Animal Kingdom.  This was the first time any of us had visited the park and we had a great time!

Erin brushing a goat

"Papa, saved me!"  This is what Erin says every time she sees this picture.  We ate our lunch outside.  There were several ducks and other various birds that were waiting for a chance at our lunch.  To say Erin was scared of the ducks is an understatement!  The poor girl!  We tried to keep them away from her, but all she could do was scream.  So Papa, carried a very terrified little girl away from the ducks and the waited for the rest of us to finish our lunch.  She still tells me that, "my afraid of ducks mommy!"  That is probably what she was telling Papa in the picture above.

Grant with his pal Mickey

Erin and Minnie Mouse.  Don't let the expression on Erin's face fool you!  She was so excited to see all the characters, but she clams up whenever she gets up there to them.  The photographer kept trying to get her to smile...I told her it was a lost cause.  The minute we walked away Erin was beaming with excitement talking about each encounter and begging to see the next character.  In fact, we had to limit her because she would have stood in line all day just to see everyone!

Here's the same face...

Grant checking things out

Grant loves to look at fish...he's going to enjoy our trip to the aquarium this summer!

Here We Go Again!!!

Well, the time has come to let the cat out of the bag....we're having a baby!!!  Yes, that will make three little munchkins running around our house.  I'm thirteen weeks along and we are due the end of November.  The day after Thanksgiving to be exact.  (I've aleady told this baby he/she must get here early!  We will see if the baby listens!)  Grant is super excited about having a baby in the house.  He is constantly telling me things he is going to teach the baby.  For example, he is going to teach the baby how to "stump on a stumpoline."  Translated:  "jump on a trampoline!"  (We don't even have a trampoline?)

I've had terrible morning sickness again...thank goodness for Zofran.  If I didn't have the Zofran I think I might just curl up and die...just kidding, but I probably would have been hospitalized for dehydration a time or two.  Grant and Erin have been very concerned about thier mommy being sick.  One morning, after I had been sick, Grant told me, "Don't worry Mommy!  We're a team and we can do this together!"  Such a sweet boy!  I am hoping my energy comes back in the next few weeks since I am coming into the second trimester.  My house has been so neglected! 

We will have an ultrasound June 16th, and hopefully we will be able to see if we are having a little brother or a little sister.

I have lots to post about...a trip to Disney and the zoo...so hopefully I will get caught up this weekend!

Ten Years Ago...

....I married my best friend! 

What's Going On

This post is a little all over the place.  I planned on blogging about each of these things separately, but too much time has passed and I know thatI never will if I don't go ahead and do it!

The azaleas were beautiful year.  The pictures just don't do the blooms justice.  Here is a view as you go down Stephen's parents' drive.  Too bad the blooms only last a week or so!

Azaleas aren't the only thing growing around here.  There is a garden too!  (and blueberies and grapes to enjoy this summer)

Grant and Erin were lucky enough to recieve this Jeep from some cousins that had outgrown it.  At first, I thought it was going to be a disaster.  There was a lot of stop and go.....stop and go, but they seem to have the concept down now.  Erin loves to drive.  She has a lead foot, but doesn't steer well at all!

Last weekend, we participated in the Dash for Donuts 5K in St. Mary's, Georgia.  Our friends Jon and Amy, Annie and Amy's mom joined us for the race as well.   Grant and Erin came along for the ride in the double jogger. 

We have also been able to enjoy the pool!  Ahh!!!!  Summertime!