She likes to move it, move it...

So we balance each other out Sarah!

You Are 10% Yankee, 90% Dixie You're completely Dixie all the way. You've possibly never even met a Yankee!

Are You a Yankee or Dixie?

Kidisms

• From Benjamin: "Bubble Salvation" aka: bubble solution
• From Ella: "Thumb Toe" aka: big toe "Twenty-Oneth" aka: Twenty-first

Twilight Camp

READY !!!
"I want to go too!"

Yep that's my boy yawning through the Pledge of Allegiance

Look at all those scouts!

Walmart is probably wondering why they sold out of five gallon buckets this week. Its a good idea whoever thought of it!

Not an easy relay for the boy with the shortest legs

This one was a little better

Made me laugh.

I am stealing this from someone else's blog because it made me laugh - It's so me...


Today's to-do list:
1. Make grocery list
2. Buy groceries
3. Put groceries away
4. Order pizza for dinner.

My house is soooooo messy right now that if I were to go into labor it would probably end up being a home birth because I would not let Kyle take me to the hospital until it was cleaned up.

I have babies on the brain...

What is your favorite baby animal?

Kittens and puppies get too much attention, so I will have to go with the baby hippo - baby elephants and baby pandas tie for second.

Baby Animalz website

Where the Hell is Matt?

I am jealous I want to go too...

Happy Birthday Maiya!!!

Big Boned Baby!!

I am scared. We went in for an ultrasound today. I wasn't exactly sure on the reasons why the doctor ordered it but I was glad to go. Apparently I am measuring 'big' - the doctor never told me that but oh well. A few too many dreams about boy babies made me excited to get to check the nether regions. Well Cora treated us to a lovely bum shot and she is most definitely a she! And the tech was able to get some good measurements of her head, tummy and femur. After that she was a little too wiggly to get a good 3-D picture. Kyle and I saw her amazingly well during the process. She looks very similar to her brother and sisters but completely different all at the same time. She has my HUGE forehead. The tech pointed out a bunch of hair that is already there. She doesn't have prominent duck lips like mine - yeah!! But, and here is why I am scared: She does have a big head like her daddy! Here is the synopsis of her measurements - keep in mind I am only 34 weeks along!

By weight she is measuring 39 weeks, by size she is measuring 38 weeks 4 days

Now I know that this is, by far, an inaccurate science, but still - OUCH! I only had an ultrasound this late in the game with Maiya and they never commented on her being too big. The lady today seemed to have mixture of awe and sympathy for me. She said I'll probably see you again in a couple of weeks. I said "why" to make fun of me? She's not going to get smaller. I don't know yet what the doctor will do with this information. I really, really, really didn't want to be induced. But I don't want to have a 10 lb. baby either. long sigh.......

Want to see a picture of the Nursery?

Well too bad because there isn't one. And I am TOTALLY ok with that. But I am trying to figure out what to do with my self. With Benjamin we lived with my mom and despite cramped quarters I went completely overboard. Most of what I bought was garage sale or consignment, but I negated the cost effectiveness of second hand by buying WAY too much of everything. We had the crib set up by my 10th week of pregnancy just so there would be a place to put all the crap I was accumulating. He had so many clothes that I found an entire BOX of unworn 3-6mos outfits when he was a year old. With Ella I reigned myself in somewhat, but buying for a girl was so fun I still did too much. She didn't get a "nursery" either because we were living in a two bedroom apartment that we intended to leave two months after she was born. So she just had a bassinet and lots of pink clothes. With Maiya we had moved into our "needs some work" townhouse in the throws of my terrible morning sickness. It wasn't until about the ninth month along that I felt good enough to organize stuff. No "nursery" once again - she stayed with us until about five months old. I did manage, with Kristi's help, to paint her and Ella's room purple before she moved in there. Now sweet baby Cora, I have done so little, and its been completely on purpose. As difficult as my pregnancy has been I vowed I would appreciate being pregnant this time instead of just spending the whole time planning and hoping for the birth. I remember two things clearly from the previous three times. As soon as everything is prepared it feels like the clock slows down and all I have to do is wait. Wait for the first pang of labor, wait for my water to break, wait for the next person to ask "you haven't had that baby yet?" Its like waiting for water to boil while staring intently at it. The other thing is every time, no matter how much I threw up or how much my back hurt, late in the night at the hospital, usually when the baby is in the nursery, I feel very, very alone and have a few pangs of sadness that I am no longer pregnant. Now don't' go calling Brooke Shields about my rapidly progressing postpartum depression. It is fleeting, but it makes me think - I should have enjoyed the kicks more, appreciated how neat it was that someone was growing inside of me, the comfort that knowing the baby was with me at all times, instead of just waiting and waiting. So here I am wondering if I am a little crazy. Cora has one dresser that we got at a consignment sale for $50 that daddy lovingly (with only a few cuss words) painted white - to match her sister's. And she has a pile of stuff in our closet that includes a bouncy seat ($10), bassinet (free), and a car seat from the neighbor (free). I fully intended to have stuff washed and folded and in said dresser by now. But for some reason I haven't. Some days I think its because I am doing better about smelling the roses during this pregnancy and other days I think its just because I am being lazy. So you guys tell me - when were you "ready for baby"?

Cora's dresser/changing table
Pile o' stuff

Wanted this in the sidebar, couldn't figure it out, was either huge or the size of a postage stamp :(

HELP!

We either have swarming ants or termites, we need some recommendations for pest control companies!

Rest in Peace Sweetie

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.

Anatole France

We are thinking about you Sweetie!

My mom's dog Sweetie (the worlds' coolest Daschund) is not well, all our love to Grandma, Tony, and Sweetie!!!

Mad skills...

NOT! - But here is stuff from my Studio class and my practice at home!

The ones of Meg are at my at home Studio (aka house lights moved all around and a blanket) This was at night, I can't wait to take some more with some sunlight through the window - oh and I have to give the official disclaimer via Meg - "I pulled her away from late night homework on a grubby day!":

This is from class (Professional Studio Set up)- I hope I don't get in trouble for posting the instructors pic - but I thought this one kicked some major butt!!! - I can't believe I took this picture! I am proud of my new camera - now I just want the pro studio set up!!!

Here is one in color - to show why I favor Black and White

PS - I am learning photshop too, but I am proud to say none of the above were photoshopped at all!!!

Am I getting accurate information

I made an angry phone call about our homeowners insurance going up $150 dollars this coming year. The agent's calm reply was: "Insurance rates are increasing across the board right now especially in Texas"

Apparantly, rising fuel costs and rising everything else costs is driving up construction costs - so the replacement value of our home has increased. Its going to cost more to insure the home that has most likely lost value in this market. So is $851 a year ok for a homeowners insurance premium? I did some shopping and couldn't really find anything better for decent coverage and I just got an offer from Allstate for $1120 a year - which makes my company look ok. I don't mean to pry but am I getting ripped off? What do you guys think?

What my little girl will be made of...

So if you are on your way to my house feel free to grab me one of the above yummies!!!

Fun at the park!

Recent Obsession

http://www.mattlogelin.com/

I check on Matt and Madeline everyday - their story is heartbreaking. His writing is witty, his pictures are cool and his music is awesome! And I want my picture taken with the robot. Click "If you haven't been here before" on the right to get their full story - be prepared to cry. I do on a regular basis reading his blog.

What me quirky?

Ok, here goes...

1. I have to eat in equal proportions. I generally eat a little bit of everything on my plate in combined bites. Therefore I have to have equal portions of all. But even if I am not combining flavors the rule still applies. Nothing unnerves me like too much ketchup vs. too little fries. Sometimes I even have to add food to make the portions equal. Probably why I am a big girl!

2. I HATE SOFT CUSHY TOILET PAPER! I HATE TWO PLY EVEN MORE! I am a plain Scott's girl. One-ply, slightly scratchy. And I have been told I use way too much of it. Roughly two full arm's length per wipe, scrunched up nicely! I also like line dried, no fabric softener, rough scratchy towels. Blotting with something as soft as a cotton ball just doesn't make me feel fresh!

3. I take really, really hot baths. So hot that I have never been in a hot tub as hot as the baths I take. So hot I almost scream getting in, but I love it! Pregnancy is rough on me because I have to cut back on the temp of the bathwater. Once in the boiling bath I stay for way too long, I continually add hot water. I get out red and have to sit with a towel wrapped around me to recuperate before dressing. My girls have all gradually joined me - and they love the hot too! Maiya tells Kyle whenever he runs her bath - "Me take a bath ok, hot ok!"

4. I buy/read/subscribe to too many magazines. Some I don't even really like but they are cheap subscriptions. I have to read when on the "throne" - and I HAVE to read while in my extremely hot baths. I average an entire magazine per bath - which since I bathe almost every night means there are a lot of magazines in my house. Shortly after moving here I asked the neighbor if she wanted my old magazines she said she would love them. I don't think she understood the magnitude of what she was agreeing to. The first load I brought her was roughly 45 magazines. So if you are a fan of any particular publication just let me know I'll pass them on! I got this habit from my dear mom.

5. I love sleep - not quite as much as my sister, but way too much. Well I should clarify, I am technically a night owl prone to bouts of insomnia. But I love to sleep in! My mother thought I would outgrow this, but so far no. I could sleep till 1 in the afternoon any day! No matter how early or late I went to bed. I have been known to go to bed at 8 and still sleep into the afternoon the next day. And I can sleep anywhere, planes, cars, buses, church, you name it. Oh and I can wake up at 1 and take a nap around 4. Kyle and I have a mutual understanding I nag less about his video game addiction and he ignores my naps. Although with children I have cut back immensely!

6. I have a temper on the road. We had a church sticker on the van that I made Kyle take off - I flip off too many people to advertise I am a church member. I never hesitate to honk. If I can, I pull up, roll down the window and speak my mind (well yell my mind) I have followed people to their parking spaces to point out what an idiot they are. Kyle is convinced I will be killed by someone in a road rage incident. Which reversely - Kyle attracts way more idiots on the road than me and he refuses to so much as honk. You can frequently see us in the car me stretched over him trying to honk the horn and him restraining me. He prefers to just "ignore" them and be ticked off the rest of the trip. I honk and get it out of my system.

7. Feet issues. This is a two part. I can't have my feet on the floor in any scary scenes - whether at home or in the theater. This could be from my family torturing me with the jaws theme as a child. But no matter what when the slow eerie instrumental music starts my feet are on the ottoman or the person's chair in front of me.

When sitting on the sofa with someone I tend tuck my feet under their butt and slightly wiggle my toes. Its completely subconscious and I have no idea why I do it, I just do . Kyle ignores it, it drives Meg crazy and my kids haven't said anything yet. So if we are really good friends and you are sitting at my house when you feel a strange sensation under your bum - don't worry its just me.

Kindergarten Graduation

Our time with Nana and Gram

the girls

Saying goodbyes!

I got a picture of Gram smiling!

Sixth Floor Museum - Very, very interesting!

YO Ranch for lunch - YUMM, Kyle had Buffalo Filet Mignon - DELISH!!!

I am at class on break and I just found what I have been wanting for a long, long time...
yeah!!
http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook