Christmas pics

First three pics are from school picture day...I didn't have any red/green outfits for them yet.  Pink will have to do!

Anabelle is thrilled to be posing with her sister

We ended up visiting Santa at the mall even though he'd already come to Nana & OG's house to see us...Anabelle still screamed, but calmed down after she told him what she wanted for Christmas so we could at least snap a cute picture!

Before church last Sunday 

and yes, my face is getting VERY round.  so is the rest of me.  I just chose to have the girls hide that part.

Less than a week!

We're officially 5 days away from becoming a family of 5, and life doesn't seem to want to slow down.  Part of that could be having a 2 year-old and a 3 year-old, and all that comes with them.  We're doing very well though preparing for this new addition to the family.  I have to brag on Josh for a minute...I made a list of things that needed to be done before the baby comes.  Stuff like changing light bulbs, raising the crib mattress, other basic organization things...you get the picture.  He's been knocking things off the list faster than I can put them on!  What a guy!  Besides that, Christmas shopping has been finished for a while and we're just playing the waiting game.  

I think the girls have gone back & forth on how they feel about having a new baby in the house (understandably) and have been showing it through their actions.  We've had several wonderful & fun days, and several days that have made me want to lock myself in the closet until I give birth.  Then, of course, there's the "normal" day-to-day stuff to deal with.  Most recently was at naptime yesterday.  I hope you're not all getting tired of hearing about Sarabeth's naptime adventures, because apparently she's not done with them.  

I started having some pain yesterday that worried me, so I was trying to take it easy until my dr's appointment in the afternoon (everything is fine by the way.)  The girls were supposed to be napping and I was sitting on the couch.  I heard Sarabeth running around upstairs so I went up to see what she was doing.  I look in her bed, no where to be found.  I go into the nursery and find her sitting in the sink surrounded by this... 

two bottles of baby powder dumped out on the floor/counter/carpet.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  On the other side of the room was a bottle of lotion which she squirted on the carpet.  I didn't figure out until I started vacuuming that the lotion was also mixed in with the baby powder and had turned to paste.  Not sure the vacuum still works.  After 45 minutes of clean-up there was still a layer of baby powder on every surface in the bathroom & bedroom.  She's made some messes before, but this is the best of the best.  Or worst of the worst.  Whatever.  We'll be able to laugh about it someday. 

Happy 30th Josh!

Josh, your mom has always said you're wise for your years.  So, in a sense, it's hard to believe you're only 30.  On the other hand, it seems that the years we've known each other and been together have flown by.  I'm trying to do the math and I think you were 20 when we met, 22 when we started dating.  Over that time you have grown into such an amazing man and I can't believe how much God has blessed me by having you in my life!  I'm thankful for you everyday and I take incredible joy in watching you be a father to our girls.  So even though it's 2 days late, Happy Birthday Josh.  I love you!

I only had a "3" candle...

Few & Far between

My blogging has been neglected lately and I can't promise it will pick up anytime soon.  I'd like to say it's because I'm busy with a 2 year old, 3 year old, Christmas shopping, and 3 weeks left of my pregnancy.  But really I have plenty of time.  I just haven't been good about it.    

Things are wonderful at our house right now.  Everyone is well, happy, and amazingly not that busy.  Sure, we all have full calendars this time of year, but I don't feel completely overwhelmed by obligations and schedules like I sometimes do.  I'm thankful for this time to spend with my sweet family of four before it changes and grows again.  Christmas is such a special time of year and we can so easily get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season...shopping, decorating, wrapping...and of course the inevitable bribing of our children.  "Remember to be nice, Santa doesn't come if you're naughty!"  I've been reminded a lot to focus on the JOY in our lives.  We ALL have so much to be joyful about, not just at Christmastime, but always.  I'm going to challenge you to focus on that- it's SO rewarding!

A little more about what we've been doing.  We went to OKC for Thanksgiving, spent the week with family and lots of wonderful food.  We helped my mom celebrate her 60th birthday (I know, she doesn't look a day past 40!)  Santa came to Nana & OG's house to visit Sarabeth, Anabelle, & Lucas.  After we came back home the girls & I went to see "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" at Casa Manana (a children's theater here in Fort Worth) with our playgroup and got a chance to wear new Christmas tutus.  Josh is away right now on a hunting trip so my mom came to keep us company this weekend.  The girls loved having the extra attention!  Josh turns 30 tomorrow (birthday post to follow!) and we're going to the Cowboy's game next Sunday.  Christmas a few weeks away and exactly 3 weeks from tomorrow we get to meet our 3rd daughter!  Like I said, SO much to be joyful about!

Some pics from lately...

Don't you love how their faces are just lit up with the Christmas spirit?!

Last of the Wall weddings

Josh's brother, Jordan married his beautiful bride Christa this past weekend.  It was a gorgeous ceremony at a little winery in Grapevine.  Christa was stunning in her gown and they couldn't have looked happier!  Congratulations, you two!  Hope you're having a blast in Mexico!

first dance

Of course, being the mom that I am, most of my pictures included my kids.  Sorry, Jordan & Christa.  I had great intentions to get many more shots of the happy couple, I just got preoccupied with the 2 & 3 year-olds running around.

Anabelle (not too sure about this photo) with her OG

Sarabeth requested this photo- she's licking dip off her thumb.  Don't ask me.

The girls with Nana & Nina

The end of the evening=two very sleepy girls

We had a very unsuccessful attempt at a family picture which is why I'm not in any of them...plus the camera adds 10 pounds...and I just don't need that on top of what I've already gained this pregnancy :)  You'll just have to trust that I was there!

Halloween (a little late)

For some reason or another I wasn't on top of things this Halloween.  In the past, the girls have had their costumes way in advance and are SO excited about them.  This year, I didn't really give them a choice about what they were going to wear.  Some kids had known for months what they were going to dress up as for Halloween, and mine didn't really know until that day.  Here's how it all played out...

TCU's homecoming was on the 31st.  We typically take the girls to one game every season and decided this would be a perfect one for them to go to.  The game was at 3, so we figured we'd watch the game and come home just in time for trick-or-treating.  The thought of getting home, getting them changed and into costumes and getting out the door to trick-or-treat wasn't too appealing to me though, so by default they were going dressed as TCU cheerleaders (outfits from last year- sizes 18 months and 2T...a bit of a stretch!)

Things took a slight turn when Sarabeth got sick Monday before Halloween.  She ran a fever for 4 days, was taking tamiflu, antibiotics, tylenol...not the best week she's ever had.  She was better by Saturday but didn't quite have all her energy back, so the girls skipped out on the game and Josh made it home in time for the festivities.  We ended up having a great evening & hung out with neighbors and friends, and the girls looked adorable in their TCU gear.  Actually, I was the only family member who looked like they didn't belong- Josh was still wearing his shirt from the game.  Made for darn cute pictures!! 

Fashionista

Anabelle has gotten an opinion about fashion.  By opinion, I mean she screams if you try to put anything besides a dress on her.  And it has to be the RIGHT dress.  I have no problem with her wearing dresses, but it's started getting cooler outside and a sundress isn't very weather-appropriate on a day that's 60 degrees and raining (which is the case today.)  I've tried everything...putting a shirt & leggings underneath, letting her choose between several outfits...you get the picture.  Today we actually got out of the house in something we both agreed on.  However, when we got home she immediately wanted to take her clothes off in exchange for a sleeveless pink & green hawaiian dress.  Too funny to not document, so here's Anabelle on this rainy day in late October.

Ready for a luau.

Fall Fun!

6 years and counting!

I'm officially a day late, but I want to wish my wonderful husband of 6 years a happy anniversary!  I'm amazed every year at how the time can go so quickly and how much can happen in the span of a year.  This has truly been an incredible one.  I'm so blessed to have you as my husband and the wonderful father to our girls.  We've been through a lot this year and although I couldn't see it at the time, it has truly brought us closer together and made our love stronger than ever.  I'm so excited to see what the Lord has for us this year and in many many more years to come.  I love you!!

Out of touch

I go through phases- from blogging, keeping people updated on our lives, to making you think we've fallen off the face of the earth.  Well, we're still here.  Not a whole lot new, but here's our last few weeks in review...

Josh has been traveling a lot giving the girls & I lots of quality time together (which translates to them being tired of seeing only my face all day!) and missing daddy, but he's back now for a while.

Sarabeth had a lovely back-t0-school fever last week which kept her home, is over that now but already has the first cold of the season.  She's constantly singing even through a stuffy nose & starting to "read" thanks to her wonderful teachers at school!  I'll get her on video & post later- it's the cutest thing I've ever seen!

Anabelle is spunky as ever even though she has been battling a little cold herself.  Not much slows this girl down :)  She's enjoying school also, so much so that the director found me to let me know that she's singing loud & dancing in chapel.  Oh, to be a fly on the wall to see that!  

I'm just doing day to day stuff, getting bigger by the moment.  I have just over 3 months to go (they're going to schedule me for Dec. 28th) so I need to start thinking about getting things ready for the holidays.  Little baby girl has no name yet but is making her presence known.  She's an active one!  

Girls go to School!

Yesterday was the start of Mother's Day Out for the school year, and Anabelle's first day of school ever!  She was SO excited.  Sarabeth went last year, so for her it it meant a new classroom with new teachers.  Anabelle wasn't as thrilled when we got to the door of her class though.  They both cried when I dropped them off but had stopped about a minute later and had a great day.  They weren't the only ones, either.  I went to Target all by myself, folded laundry without anyone unfolding it before it got in the drawers, had lunch with 2 sweet friends, and cleaned the house (a little.)  Some productivity, some relaxation.  It was wonderful!

Musical Rooms

Since we've been back in town, the girls have started sharing a room.  We tried a few times before but it just hadn't worked out.  Anabelle would run out of the room screaming, "I want to go to bed!" and head straight for her crib.  They did so well sleeping in the same room while we were on vacation, though, that the transition has been great.  I keep them separated during naptime still, knowing they'd play the entire time instead of sleep.  Anabelle naps in her bed and I let Sarabeth sleep in the guest bed.  Here's what I found when I went to check on them a few minutes ago.  Mind you, they've been awake since 5:45 this morning, so they pretty much fell asleep mid-play.

Anabelle literally asleep on her feet.

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Sarabeth asleep amongst toys, pillows, wedged between the bed & window.

Alabama Wedding

We drove to Florence, Alabama for my brother-in-law's wedding last week.  We went a few days early for our first family vacation before everyone came in town.  I'm sure I'm going to leave out some details, but I'll try to remember the funniest moments!  Caution: it's a long one!

Tuesday

~Hit the road about 1:30, drive 6 hours to Little Rock, AK.

~Josh checks into the hotel while I realize Anabelle's diaper has leaked & soaked through hercarseat.

~Sarabeth tells me her pull-up has leaked also (but I don't believe her), meanwhile I'm changing Anabelle in the parking lot.  

~Get to Cracker Barrel for dinner (YUM!) and realize Sarabeth's pants really are wet.  Feel like a bad mother for not believing her.

~Change Sarabeth in the bathroom at the restaurant.

~Have a delicious and not at ALL healthy dinner.  First of many meals like that for the week.

~Leave dinner, find Target so I can buy Lysol & laundry detergent (carseats reek by this time, decide I have to wash them at the hotel.)

~9:00 get back to the hotel, lug all our stuff including carseats to the room.  

~Start washing carseat covers in the bathtub only to discover the bathtub won't drain.  Josh goes down to get our room changed.

~Move across the hall to another room, finish doing my "laundry."

~10ish- we all get in bed for a less than restful night's sleep.  At least for Josh & I.  The girls slept great!

Wednesday

~Hoping the covers are dry by morning.  They're not.  I find the laundry room in the hotel (would have been smart to look the night before!) and stick everything in the dryer while we eat breakfast.

~Get on the road by 9ish for the remainder of the drive.

~Stop for lunch, actually change Anabelle's diaper this time to avoid yesterday's issues.  

~Get to Florence around 2 (girls slept almost an hour in the car!)

~Check into the hotel, put on swimsuits, spend a lovely afternoon by the pool.

~Dinner at a Mexican restaurant.

~Go to Kara Beth's (now my sister-in-law) house to say hi to her family before the wedding frenzy starts.

~Back to hotel, baths, bed.  Anabelle slept in a big bed for the first time & did GREAT!  Only fell out of bed once, didn't remember it in the morning :) 

Thursday

~Josh goes to play golf with his brother, the girls & I go see the lions at the University of North Alabama

~Walk around the beautiful campus for a while

~Back to the hotel, out to the pool

~Lunch with Kara Beth

~Naps (all of us!)

~Back out to the pool when Josh gets back

~Dinner at hotel, family starts to arrive

~Bedtime!

Friday

~Yummy french toast at the hotel for breakfast

~I go down to the spa with Kristen & Christa to get a pedicure, Josh takes the girls to the pool!

~Grab lunch for 5 kids at McDonalds, take it to the pool & have another not-so-healthy meal

~Bath, nap, get ready for rehersal

~Rehersal for wedding in the hot Alabama sun

~Take girls to a friend of the Lawrence family to be babysat

~Wonderful rehersal dinner at Ricatoni's.  David & Kara Beth are such a sweet couple!

~Back to pick up the girls, put them to  bed around 11pm

Saturday

~Josh goes to play golf with my parents

~I take the girls down the hill to the spray park.  It's broken.  Up to the pool we go.

~Anabelle screams through an hour of swimming because she only wants whatever Sarabeth is playing with.

~Leave the pool early with absolutely no patience left

~Grab lunch, eat back in the hotel room, put the girls down for a nap

~2 hours later they finally fall asleep

~Wake up, snacks, baths, get dressed for wedding

~Drive to golf course for wedding, girls look adorable in their flower girl dresses!

~Beautiful wedding!!  Sunset on the river, gorgeous bride & groom

~Dinner & reception, dancing, two VERY tired little girls.  Back to hotel early

Sunday

~Pack, leave, get in the car for 10 1/2 hour drive

~Home sweet home!

Off to Alabama!

We're braving our first real road trip with the kids tomorrow- a 10ish (which really means 12) hour drive to northern Alabama for Josh's brother's wedding.  It's been almost 2 weeks since I've posted anything, so thought I'd at least give a little update.

Anabelle had a virus last week, ran a fever for 3 days straight.  I took her to the doctor the morning of the 3rd day, and of course the fever broke that night.  She had a lovely rash all over her body for a few days afterwards, but she's all better.

Sarabeth got another haircut.  The first didn't stop her from chewing it.  I had them cut it really short- and I had a hard time with it after.  It looked way way too short to me, but I've gotten used to it & it looks really cute on her.  This time did the trick though!  She can still get her hair in her mouth, but barely.  She's been asking for other things to chew on and will pretty much settle for anything- a washcloth, blanket, her shirt...whatever is closest!

Josh & I are both doing great.  This pregnancy has been easy so far & I'm actually getting some energy back!!  Josh is working hard (as always!) and we're both really looking forward to our getaway.  Pics to come after the wedding!

Looks like we're having a....

GIRL!!

baby girl profile pic

Weekend in OKC

We went up to Oklahoma City this weekend to celebrate my grandpa's 90th birthday.  The girls got to spend time with him & my grandma, along with aunts and uncles, and their cousin they don't see very often.  I'm so thankful they get to know our extended family, but especially that they get to have a relationship with their great-grandparents!

Sarabeth & Great-Grandpa taking a walk in the backyard

Aunt Norene, Lauren & Great-Grandma

Lucas & Anabelle with Uncle Mitch

Happy Birthday to you!